Adam Turner, Artist

Hello and welcome to the 73rd 3 Art Questions With Jackson interview! This time is different because I am interviewing Adam Turner, who is super talented but I am also going to be in a show with him and Christy Dickinson at ArtReach St. Croix in Stillwater, MN from October 9th to November 15th. I am honored! Adam's thoughts about art were very interesting and I think you will agree. Thank you for reading! (All images courtesy of the artist / Instagram: @adamturnervisuals / Website: adamturnervisuals.com)

Jackson: How do you think you ended up on an artistic path? Did you have a specific experience?

Adam: I honestly don't ever remember a time I wasn't on an artistic path. My mom always tells me that I was drawing before I was walking/talking. But my first conscious memory, I was already an 'artist', and there was never a time I hadn't considered going into art. 

The real question was in which manner I'd pursue art. I always knew I would focus on art 

in college, but what next? The question for me was commercial art, or 'starving artist'? I went with the reliable income...commercial art. 

It wasn't until the summer of 2023, where a family member questioned me about whether I would ever 'return' to fine art (since that's really what it was to me until college). My wife and I took the jump...that October we committed to two years of trying it out. Well, the two years just wrapped this month. It's now my new career.

Jackson: Your website indicates that you try to capture a moment from a story. What does that mean to you personally and what do you hope the viewer takes from your work?

Adam: This is a much bigger 'story' unfortunately, but I think I could summarize some of my thoughts. I find that when you give proper attention to any specific brief moment in time, it's really evident that it is part of a much larger story. 

For example...a painting of a landscape where the clouds are lit up a certain way...that's not just a pretty picture. It's part of a larger story. It could define a beautiful day and give clues to just why. It could indicate a storm is coming, both a real experience and a metaphor that most can relate to.

And, the purpose of identifying a larger story, is that when you have context, you are a step closer to understanding. And, when you have understanding, you are one step closer to compassion. 

That especially rings true with my figures. Even the landscapes and wildlife are intended to lead the viewer to the context of the story, understanding and then, ultimately, compassion...either for the environment, or even for themselves or for whatever they need to extend some grace towards.  

Jackson: If you could meet any artist living or dead, who would it be and why?

Adam: There's some pretty cool artists I love knowing right now...just being able to relate and hang out with others who know your world is pretty great. 

HOWEVER, since the question is more about 'famous' artists...probably Monet. My work is not really similar to his, other than it falls under the impressionist category. But, for whatever reason, I get the sense that he wasn't pretentious and he may be easy to talk to. Specifically, I'd like to be able to talk to him about light and 'ways of seeing'. How does he view light? How does he pick up the hues as light dances off the surface?

Things like that.